Cook Islands Luxury Resort - Conservation & Eco Tours
Discover Rarotonga's natural world
Takitumu Nature Walk
Join your guide for a gentle walk through the lush tropical forest of of Takitumu Conservation area. This forest walk has been established to enable visitors interested in nature and conservation to get a first hand look at the operations of the Takitumu Conservation area. This is a commuity based protected area set aside in 1996 by the landowners to protect endangered native birds, especially the endangered Rarotongan flycatcher (Kakerori)and their habitat.
This is an unique eco tourism venture because it is managed by the traditional landowners and uses its profits to assit with the conservation of the endangered Rarotongan Flycatcher and its habitat on Rarotonga as well as on the island of Atiu.
The Takitumu Conservation area also provides birdwatchers with a chance to see and hear other native birdlife including the unique Rarotonga Starling (i'oi) and fuit dove (kukupa) along with the introduced myna and long-tailed cuckoo (karavia).
The Takitumu Conservation area contains 70% of all plant species found in inland Rarotonga, including the fitchia (neinei) the Rarotongan orchid and the rare ground orchid.
Bookings are essential for the Nature Walk and can be made through the Sea Change Villas' office.
Pa's Mountain Walk
Eco tourism at its best with Rarotonga's most experienced guide.
The Across Island Walk
Spend an unique day with Pa on this challenging walk. Follow through the lush valley to the beginning of the steep ascent leading to the base of the Needle. (Half and Hour).
Stop at the large ceremonial stone. See the carving done by ancient Polynesians.
Follow along the ridge to the Needle and down through the canopy of native trees to the mountain stream and then to Wigmore's waterfall. (Two and a half hours)
The walk, which moves at quite a brisk pace, is quite strenous and requires a certain standard of fitness. The walk is not suited to those with heart or knee problems. Pa reserves the right to refuse those he thinks unfit for the walk for saftey reasons.
Lunch and transport provided, bring a drink of your choice along with mosquito repellent. |
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Discovery Nature Walk
Stage One: A gentle walk through the noni plantation and taro fields to the mountain.
Stage Two: Enter the pristine rain forest, see magnificent Chestnut trees, shampoo plants, ferns and a variety of other flora and fauna.
Stage Three; Visit the sacred Marae. Hear stories of Pa's ancestors. Swim in the warriors' pool where they rejuvenated their energy. Pa's ancestral knowledge of herbal medicines will amaze you.
The Discovery Nature Walk is not suitable for those with knee problems.
Lunch and transport provided, bring a drink of your choice, swimwear and mosquito repellent.
Direct bookings can be made to Pa on telephone: 21 079 or through Sea Change Villas' reception.
Whales
Humpback whales, famous for their mysterious singing and amazing acrobatics migrate through the Cook Islands every year between July and October, passing very close to the outside reef of Rarotonga. They travel from the Southern Ocean to the warm tropical waters of the Pacific to breed before returning to the south.
Last century the whaling industry exploited the whales for their blubber to extract oil for export. The whaling era is remembered by the relics on display at the Whale Research and Education Centre on the inland road close to the main township of Avarua.
Whales are now protected within the two million square kilometre whale sanctuary established in the Cook Islands in 2001.
As the whales come very close to Rarotonga, the best viewing is from the shore and reef from July through to October.
The locals say, 'In the Cook Islands we don't go to the whales, the whales come to us'.
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